- Nearly half of British adults would eliminate generative AI entirely if given the choice
- 18-24 year olds most likely to kill GenAI and block new data center projects
- Public sentiment around AI has declined since ChatGPT was launched
New data from YouGov has found that almost half (42%) of British adults would ditch generative AI entirely if they could, and a fifth (22%) are undecided about whether they really like the technology or not.
Perhaps the biggest surprise is that the youngest citizens, ages 18 to 24, are among those most likely to want to get rid of AI: 55% would make it go away if they could. All older age groups are less likely to feel as strongly.
Considering that only 27% of the youngest age group would not delete GenAI, it means that they are twice as likely to want to get rid of it, although other studies indicate that they could be among its most active users.
Younger users are more likely to turn against AI, according to several studies
While autonomous and agent AI dominate the headlines for their ability to act based on user behavior, generative AI continues to prevail due to its ability to create content from existing context. Its use cases span search engines, smartphones, productivity software, social media platforms, customer service systems, and much more.
Despite multi-million pound investments from companies such as OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Anthropic and Meta to try to integrate this technology seamlessly into the apps and services we use every day, it is clear that the British public still see it as an obstacle.
But more than that, the public is still concerned that AI could replace human jobs, as tech giants continue to announce widespread layoffs years after generative AI reached mass popularity in late 2022.
As for why younger audiences might be more against AI, it could simply be that greater exposure leads to greater skepticism. Young people aged 18 to 24 are also generally the most likely to use social media platforms, where AI-generated misinformation is frequently spread, and are also among those most affected by an apparent loss of entry-level jobs.
Trust in AI has fallen since ChatGPT
Separately, a 2025 study exploring public perception of AI before and after ChatGPT found a drop in satisfaction, seeing increased support for human-only decision making and decreased support for AI-only decision making.
“The proportion of respondents who consider AI ‘not at all acceptable’ increased from 23% to 30%,” the authors summarized.
Concern, lack of trust, and dissatisfaction around AI are actually global issues, and another US-biased study reveals that 50% of Americans are more worried than excited about the technology. Among the effects cited are poorer creative thinking and relationship building, but Americans are slightly more optimistic about AI’s impacts on problem-solving.
YouGov also asked UK citizens about their perception of ChatGPT specifically, ahead of the company’s IPO. The response was largely positive, and consumer confidence in OpenAI’s offering was generally above average.
Environmental and sustainability concerns also loom large when it comes to public perception: several US states, cities and regions have imposed moratoriums on new data center projects in recent months, citing energy, water and land limitations.
Almost half (48%) of UK adults said they would oppose a new AI data center in their local area, compared to support from just 20%; again, a sentiment that was most evident among younger citizens, challenging preconceptions that 18- to 24-year-olds are the most pro-AI.
So while tech giants continue to invest billions in the AI race, it’s clear that they have yet to win over the exact citizens their products are aimed at.
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